Radiators



Feb. 28, 1956 c. z. ALEXANDER 2,736,790

RADIATORS Filed NOV. 15, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet l 36 I l0 4 J4- um 7 I I I 1- l l I 22 35 I8 I f I 25 Y 20 5H /6 25 as /9 INVENTOR. CARL Z. ALEXANDER BYo-z rdbqchw L Feb. 28, 1956 c. z. ALEXANDER 2,736,790

RADIATORS Filed Nov. 15, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 T 1?? '1 50 HI Fig.4

INVENTOR. GU21. Z. ALEXANDEQ United States Patent RADIATORS Carl Z. Alexander, Chatham, N. J. Application November 15, 1952, Serial No. 320,662 1 Claim. (Cl. 219-38) This invention relates to improvements in radiators for heating purposes.

It is an object of the instant invention to disclose a heating system in which each radiator is a self-contained unit requiring no central heating plant with interconnections intermediate the plant and the radiators.

A further object is to decrease the cost of installation of heating systems.

Another object is to provide a heating system requiring substantially no maintenance.

An additional object is to disclose a heating system especially suited for temporary use Where below freezing temperatures may occur during periods of non-use.

It is also an object of the instant invention to disclose a light weight and highly eificient radiator.

Other objects of the instant invention will become apparent in the course of the following specification.

In the attainment of the aforesaid objectives, the improved radiator is made in two forms. In both forms, the temperature of a known radiating unit is controlled by circulating therethrough a fluid the temperature of which is raised by an electric heating unit. In the first form, the fluid is circulated by thermo-siphonic action and in the second form by the natural tendency of a heated fluid to rise. To insure that the circulation of the fluid in the second form will be in one direction only, a check valve is inserted in the system.

The invention will appear more clearly from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings showing by way of example, the preferred forms of the inventive concept.

In the drawings:

Figures 1-3 show the first form of the improved radiator constructed in accordance with the principles of this invention, and in which:

Figure 1 is an elevational view of the improved radiator in part section;

Figure 2 is a plan view in part section of the improved radiator shown in Figure 1, and

Figure 3 is a sectional view along 3--3 of Figure 1.

Figures 4 and 5 show the second form of the improved radiator, and in which:

Figure 4 is an elevational view of tor in part section; and

Figure 5 is a top view of the radiator shown in Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a wiring diagram showing the connections for the thermostatic control of both the room temperature and the temperature of the fluid in the heating unit.

Referring now in greater detail to the first form of the improved radiator shown in Figures 1-3 where like reference numerals indicate the like parts, reference numeral 10 indicates the radiating unit, and 11 the heating unit.

The radiating unit 10 is of known type in which three spaced pipes 12, 13, and 14 are interconnected at one end by the header 15 and at the opposite end by the header 35. The radiating surface of the pipes 1214 the improved radiais increased in a well known manner by the longitudinally spaced fins 34 transversely disposed across the three pipes. The fins may also be added to the later mentioned pipe line 29. The radiating unit comes in several widths and a great variety of lengths.

The heating unit 11 is constituted in part of the outer housing 16 and the inner housing 17 both of which may be of circular cross section with the inner housing 17 held concentric within the outer housing 16. One end of the inner housing 17 is closed by the end member 18 with the corresponding end of the outer housing closed by the end member 19. At the opposite ends, the inner and outer housings are closed by the common end member 20.

At the top of the outer housing 16 is an outlet port 21 which may be in the center, as illustrated, or otherwise as desired. In the end member 19 of the outer housing 16 is an inlet port 23 adjacent the bottom.

At the top of the inner housing 17 is an outlet port 24 aligned with the previously mentioned outlet port 21 of the outer housing. Through the bottom of the inner housing 17 is a plurality of openings 25 which form passageways between the interiors of the outer housing 16 and the inner housing 17.

The heating unit 11 is further constituted of the known electric heating element 26 inserted in the inner housing 17 through the end member 20, as illustrated. The temperature of the element 26 is controlled by a thermostat 27 in a known manner and the terminals of which for connection to the house electrical supply are not shown.

A pipe line 28 inerconnects the outlet post 21 of the outer housing 16 with the inlet port of the header 15 of the radiating unit 10. Another pipe line 29 connects the outlet port of the header 35 of the radiating unit with the inlet port 23 of the outer housing 16. One end of a percolator tube 30 is inserted in the outlet port 24 of the inner housing 17 with the free end 22 of the tube extended into the pipe line 28 and concentric therewith as illustrated.

A known expansion chamber 36 is interconnected with the header 35, as further illustrated.

In operation:

The radiating unit 10, the pipe lines 28 and 29 and the heating unit 11, including, of course, the inner and outer housings thereof, are filled with any heat transfer fluid such as water and to which an anti-freeze substance is added, if desired. Obviously, the boiling point of the fluid is predetermined. When the electrical energy is turned on the heating element 26 in the inner housing 17 will rise in temperature and transfer the heat thereof to the fluid in the inner housing 17. When the temperature of the fluid in the inner housing has been sufiiciently raised it will be forced out of the percolator tube 30 into the pipe line 28, forcing the fluid in advance thereof through the pipe line to the inlet port of the header 15, thence through the pipes 12-14 of the radiating unit to the header 35, thence out of the oulet port thereof through the pipe line 29 to the inlet port 23 of the outer housing 16, and thence through the openings 25 into the interior of the inner housing 17 to replace the expelled fluid and for repetition of the cycle. Actually the thermo-siphonic action of the heater for circulating the fluid is in the manner of a pump but without the necessity for any moving parts.

A removable member 31 in the expansion chamber 36 and a plug 33 in the bottom of the outer housing may be provided for servicing the unit.

Referring now to the second form of the improved radiator shown in Figures 4 and 5, reference numeral 40 indicates the radiating unit, and 51 the heating unit.

The radiating unit 40 is substantially the same as the previously described radiating unit of the first form and has an inlet port 42 and an outlet port 43.

The heating unit 41 is also substantially similar to the heating unit of the first form except that only one housing 44 is used. The housing 44 is provided with an outlet port 45 at the top and an inlet port 46 at the bottom. A pipe line 47 connects the outlet port 45 of the housing 44 to the inlet port 42 of the radiating unit. Another pipe line 43 connects the outletport 43 of the radiating unit 4t") to the inlet port 46 of the heating unit 41. in the pipe line 48 is a check valve 49 so inserted that it opens only in the direction of the heating unit 41.

in operation, fluid inserted in the system when raised in temperature in the heating unit will rise in the pipe 47 to force the fluid in advance thereof, through the radiating unit 40, thence out of the radiating unit through the pipe 43 and the check valve 49 for return to the heating unit 41 and a repetition of the cycle.

In both forms of the improved radiator, the radiating units are preferably housed in a cabinet 50 with the heating units located below the radiating units as most clearly shown in Figure 4. With the cabinet open at the bottom as illustrated, cool air in the room will enter the bottom of the cabinet to rise through the radiating unit and thence out of the louvers 51 which may extend to the top of the cabinet. With the boiling point of the fluid known, a thermostat 52 (Fig. 6) can be set to prevent the temperature of the fluid from rising beyond the boiling point thereof. A second thermostat 53 connected in series with the thermostat 52 may be located in any part of the room for the control of the room temperature. Of course, the improved radiators are portable from room to room but may require a special electric circuit when an existing circuit might become overloaded.

It is obvious that various changes may be made in details within the scope of the appended claim without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is, therefore, to be understood that subject invention is not to be limited to the specific details shown and described.

What is claimed is:

A radiator comprising, in combination, a radiating unit for a fluid heat transfer medium, said unit having an inlet port'and an outlet .port formed therein, an electric heating unit for the medium disposed below said radiating unit, said heating unit comprising an outer housing of circular cross section and a concentric inner housing disposed in said outer housing, said outer housing having formed in the top thereof an outlet port and in the bottom thereof an inlet port, said inner housing having formed in the top thereof an opening substantially registering wtih the outlet port of said outer housing, said inner housing further having formed through the bottom thereof a plurality of spaced openings, a pipe interconnecting the outlet port of said outer housing with the inlet port of said radiating unit, a thermo-siphonic tube for the registering opening of said inner housing With one end of said tube extended into said pipe, a second pipe for interconnecting the outlet port of said radiating unit with the inlet port of said outer housing, and an electric heating element disposed in said inner housing.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,662,935 Odell Mar. 20, 1928 1,788,515 Gannon Jan. 13, 1931 1,852,252 McIntosh Apr. 5, 1932 1,866,221 Pennington July 5, 1932 1,942,559 Lithman Jan. 9, 1934 1,983,437 Carr Dec. 4, 1934 2,276,407 Manzer Mar. 17, 1942 

